hello all .. My friend just bought a 1987 firebird with the fuel injection v6 and i think he said something about a tuned port engine or a twin port engine .. but anyways .. he has truble cranking it .. it takes him about 7-12 tried before it starts .. and sometimes when he does start it and puts it into gear (its an auto) it will die .. well to make a long story short he wanted me to ask ya'll if ya'll know what it could possiblie be

 

Vacume leak, bad fuel pump, dirty injectors, I think their is a thing called cold start injector.

Main thing, he just bought it??? MAJOR TUNE UP..... cap/rotor, plugs, wires, clean IAT, belts, hoses, airfilter, check the muffler n cat, replace all vacume hoses, flush n fill, thermostate, so on...

Then see what she does when you go to turn her on

 

Any check engine light? My 86 used to do the same thing. I had a code 54 (low fuel pressure). I changed the fuel pump relay and she fired up and stayed running. However, I think Dale is right in doing all the other stuff first.

 

Hey, welcome to the boards! Yeah, the cold start injector "lived" on the 85-89 (ack, a spider on my wall... death, death.. dead!) 2.8's. It dropped for the 90-92 3.1's. But I think doing the major tuneup could definitely help! You two could do it together, should only take a day. Something that might help his starting problem- how's he starting it? Dumb question, right? Hear me out... 'fact, watch him start it, and maybe we'll have a quick answer.

The fuel pump, inside the fuel tank, needs some time to "prime", to build up enough pressure. If you don't give it a chance to prime, the car will crank and crank and crank and take forever to start. Simple reason, the pump's trying to prime as the engine's cranking- and as the engine's cranking, it's spraying fuel, so it's like a race for the pump to catch up.

Incorrect starting method: Getting in the car, and turning the key directly from "off" to "start/crank".

Correct starting method: Getting into the car, turning the key from "off" to "on". "On" is the position right before "crank"... it's also called the "test lights" position, because all the lights on the dash come up, and you could see if one's burnt out. This is the same position that lets you run the radio and roll the windows down. (I'm not talking about the accessory position.) After the key goes to "on" position, wait 4-5 seconds. You'll hear a "hummmmm" from the fuel tank- this is the pump priming up. The pump will stop after a few seconds. Now, move the key from "on" to "crank", and the motor should start right up.

So watch him work the key before telling him about this. Hopefully his starting method is the problem. If I'm in a rush, and go directly from "off" to "crank", my car will crank and crank all day. If I let the pump prime first, the car usually starts in under a half spin of the starter motor (aka immediately!).

But here's the major tuneup post. The manual I mention will cover it all.

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Tom P's Major Tuneup Info: 3rd gen (82-92) F-body series

Here's the Major Tuneup stuff- this covers alot more than a garage would do for you, and it'll wind up to be cheaper (or at least the same price)! First, buy a Haynes 82-92 Firebird (or 82-92 Camaro) manual.. they're about $15 from any auto parts store. I like them alot better than the Chilton's manuals (which aren't what they used to be 25 years ago). And of course, the ultimate manual is the GM Service Manual, available from http://www.helminc.com - I paid about $60 for mine back in 1994.

Replace: Distributor cap/rotor, spark plug wires (use aftermarket), spark plugs, air filter (use K&N replacements), PCV valve, fuel filter, engine oil/filter, auto trans fluid/filter (or manual trans gear lube), and rear axle gear lube (use limited slip additive if required). Check and reset the timing to stock specs (in Haynes manual). Check and reset the TV cable if you have an automagic (in Haynes manual). Do a lube job and get an alignment done- the car will go faster "easier" if the front wheels are straight. Buy a can of "Intake and Throttle Body Cleaner for Fuel Injected Engines" by Gumout (yellow or gray can, with a red cap), and follow the can's instructions to clean out your intake. DO NOT USE CARB/CHOKE CLEANER- this removes the protective coating fuel injected engines have. Put a bottle of injector cleaner or my "red magic" (STP Gas Treatment) into a full tank of good gas.

It's also a good idea to replace your coolant, check your brake fluid level and p/s fluid level, check the belts, and check your brakes while you're at it.

Call Summit Racing at 800-230-3030 for a free catalog, then you can pick and choose a spark plug wire set and get your K&N air filter(s). (You can also find this stuff through their website, at http://www.summitracing.com , but it's not as thorough as the catalog.) When you leaf thru the catalog, you WON'T SEE any parts listed for a 2.8l v6 - you need to call them and ask them for part #'s/availablility. (Same goes with exhaust, etc.) If you're like me, and can't want to wait for the catalog in the mail, call them and order one anyway! Then, go to their website, at http://www.summitracing.com , look up their ignition wires, decide on a brand, and give them a call for a part # and price.

But definately do a tuneup first... you'll see the best improvment from the "fun" parts when your car is in good running condition.

-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

quick follow up... when my 86 had the bad fuel pump relay, I got no hum from the pump.

 

Thanx guys .. i printed out our convo and my friend is very grateful for all ur help as am i... he said hes going to get a tune up and then bring it to get the some of the things u listed checked .. i watched him start the car .. and so did i .. usually it taked about 7-12 tries however when i did that it took only 3 or 4 .. but thanx alot for all the help